By Danielle Strenke

At a special meeting June 17, the Harris City Council approved the final plat for Highland Villas, a 32-unit development proposed by landowner Jerry Triden.

The council approved the plat by a 3-2 vote. Council members Kathy Olson and Wayne Buisman voted against, while Mayor Richard Hanson and council members Dan Walton and Don Cardinal voted for the motion.

The special meeting was held after hours of discussion about the development at the councilís regular meeting June 3 led to a stalemate between the four council members.

Buisman argued at the June 3 meeting that the development should only be approved if Triden can guarantee the units are all sold to senior citizens.

At last weekís special meeting, Buisman had little to say. ìItís already been approved so this is a formality anyway,î he said.

City Attorney Kevin Shoeberg again explained that the stage when the council could have made such requirements was during the preliminary plat process, not at the time of final plat approval.

ìIf you had required something on the preliminary plat and they came in and it wasnít met it would be different,î Shoeberg said.
ìThis is where you make sure they did everything you asked. If you deny it that opens up the city to damages and I donít think thatís anyoneís intent,î he said.

Shoeberg explained that specific requirements written in the preliminary plat by the city included the installation of sprinkler systems and in-floor heating in all of the units. All of those requirements have been met, Shoeberg said.

He said a developerís agreement is still being finalized. ìThe developerís agreement seems to be very well written for the protection of the city,î Cardinal said.

ìThe developerís agreement is written to assure that the city incurs no additional costs,î Hanson said.

Shoeberg said items such as $200,000 in up-front fees for sewer and water access charges and monthly fees thereafter will cover the cityís costs to those systems for the development.

Shoeberg said the final developerís agreement will be completed before any work begins on the development.

Chisago County Commissioner Mike Robinson spoke briefly to update the council on items pertaining to Harris.

Robinson urged the council to apply for a senior housing grant through the county HRA/EDA. ìI know we talked about it with the city one or two years ago,î Robinson said. ìThey got one for Rush City and now Lindstrom is already approved,î he said.

Robinson was also concerned that the city was no longer in talks with Sunrise Township over a proposed fire contract.

Shoeberg told him that the township has received notice that services from the Harris Fire Department will be terminated as of June 30 without a new contract.

Robinson said it would be a bad deal if Harris doesnít respond to a fire or mutual aid call and someone dies because of it.

ìWe offered them a contract but they want the formula the same as their contract with Amador, even though theyíre saving money using our formula,î Hanson said.

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